Hans Dans An' Me Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, an' shared the wind an' weather,
An' many a job o' work in them old days we done together;
I've stood my trick with Hans afloat an' drunk with him ashore,
But - never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, Lord love you, never no more!

Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, we couldn't 'elp but be,
'E'd shoved 'is bloomin' nose in every ship as sailed the sea!
For Hans'd sign for three pun' ten when union rates was four,
But' - never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, you bet yer, never no more!

Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, an' if 'e'd fought us clean,
Why, shipmates still when war was done might Hans an' me 'ave been,
The truest pals a man can have are them 'e's fought before,
But - never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, d' ye get me, never no more!

Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, but long's I sail the sea,
There'll be no foc's'le big enough to hold Hans Dans an' me,
For all the seas an' all the years won't wipe out Hans's score,
Nor do away the dirty work 'e 's done an' called it war,
No, never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, so 'elp me, never no more!